Simple guidelines for successful and adaptable tween bedroom design

Designing a tween’s bedroom can be exceptionally fun and creative. I have two tweens – a 10 year-old girl and 12 year-old boy. The many transformations that occur during these years are breathtaking and worth celebrating.

Tween boys and girls are independent, sometimes sassy, hold many interests, and have well-formed personalities and strong opinions on many subjects. They value creativity and if possible, many tweens would like to reinvent their personal space as often as they reinvent themselves. Like their future teen-selves, they need a private, personalized room with work areas and space to hang with their friends. Like their past child-selves, they still play with many of the games and toys that they loved a few years before.

The years pass quickly though, and the design developed with a ten-year old in mind may be too childish for the 13 year-old. Depending on your family’s resources and interests, it may make more sense to approach tween bedroom design with short-term, easily upgradable solutions. In other words, go for one or two big changes to match the tween's current lifestyle, but be realistic as to how long that design will last.

A few guidelines to keep in mind (and occasionally break)…

Keep the basics – the primary paint, floor covering, and architecture – simple. Use neutrals or patterns you can work with in future years.

Add interest with easily sourced (and easily replaced) patterns, accents, color, and images. Accent walls are great. Layer patterns on the bedding, an area rug, or window treatments. Use a variety of textures on the floor or a seating piece. Wall decals and artwork quickly transform a space and a fun pendant light seals the deal.

Storage, storage and more storage. Favorite toys from the past will be joined by an onslaught of sports gear, book collections, academic tools, and clothing, which will need a place to live.

Let them show off. Tweens love to display their stuff. Notes from friends, medals, jewelry, hats, collectibles, their name – whatever is important to them that month. In our family - this month - this includes lip balm and handbags (my daughter) and signed baseballs and boomerangs (my son). They’ll need a range of display options – think hooks, bulletin boards, shelves and bins.

Have fun. Don’t worry too much about the perfect design. I don’t think my daughter cares much about color theory, but she has lots of opinions on the softness of her sheets. Make it functional and flexible, and enjoy the ride.